The Roanoker Nov/Dec 2024 - 102

homes
to the top of the doorway, making sure the tension is tight
enough to hold the garland for the season.
Pine isn't the only greenery that signals holiday cheer
- holly, eucalyptus and even magnolia leaves will all
create a beautiful atmosphere in any room. Use holly
sprigs to brighten up table tops or to tuck into picture
frames around the house. Eucalyptus brings a gorgeous
blue accent to any floral arrangement and multiple stems
bundled in a pitcher look as good as they smell. Magnolia
leaves are a striking alternative to fir and pine garlands
or wreaths and can also be bundled in vases with ribbon.
The best part about all of these greens? They last all
season long, very minimal care or water required! (Just
beware the radiator proximity, which might dry them
out prematurely!)
PAPER
One of the best ways to achieve a crafty look for any and
all skill levels is with a classic paper chain. I recommend
cardstock, though almost any paper can work - even
brown grocery bags! (Tissue paper and newspaper are
not great for this, because they will tear and lose their
shape easily.) Simply cut a strip of paper and connect its
ends into a ring using a stapler, tape or a glue dot. Then
cut another strip of paper and loop it through the first
ring before repeating the process. You can make the chain
as long or as short as you like, and you can use colored
paper to create a pattern or all white printer paper to
make a snowy landscape across your home. I love using
paper chains as garlands on my tree, or hanging them
from the center of the ceiling (like on a fan or light fixture)
out to the edges and corners of the room to create
a circus tent-like effect.
If you want to be truly classic then paper snowflakes
is the way to go - all you need is printer paper and scissors.
You can find tons of easy instructions online, but
I recommend experimenting and seeing what happens.
The basic rule of thumb is to start with a square and
fold it diagonally two to three times, then cut shapes
out of the edges. When you unfold the paper, you will
have a snowflake! Make large snowflakes or small ones
and string them up in a garland or hang them from the
ceiling. Tape them to your windows or walls, or put them
on your tree. If you want to get really fancy, you can even
use an X-Acto knife to cut very fine shapes and patterns
into your creations.
Tissue paper flowers are the favorite on Pinterest, but
they can be a bit fussy for beginners or children. (If you're
so inclined, a quick online search will pull up tons of great
tutorials!) For a more accessible variation that you can try
with a mixed group of people, I love a tissue paper pom
pom. All you need is tissue paper in your color preferences,
tape and fishing line. Take three sheets of paper in
a stack and make an accordion fold on the shorter side
- start at the end and make a two-inch fold, then flip the
stack and make a two-inch fold going the other direction,
102 november/december 2024
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The Roanoker Nov/Dec 2024

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